Trapped LED CHMSL with living hinge

• US 6,561,689 B1
• Filed: 01/09/2002
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: Guide Corporation (Vehicle Lighting Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Clayton E., Kidd, R. Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US10/043,072
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 362/240, 362/241, 362/245, 362/247, 362/248, 362/249, 362/541, 362/544, 362/545, 362/800, 362/235
• US Class Current: 362/541
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0081 of objects with parts connected by a thin section, e.g. hinge, tear line
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

An automotive center high mount stop lamp (“CHMSL”) comprising a housing, a LED array circuit board having at least one LED, a lens/reflector, and a cover. The housing comprises a base and a trapping panel which are joined by a living hinge which allows the trapping panel to be folded over the base. In the folded position the trapping panel serves to secure the LED array circuit board in position without the need for additional means to retain the LED array circuit board. The lens/reflector and cover, respectively, are then fixably attached to the housing.

Claims

1. An automotive center high mount stop lamp for mounting on a vehicle, wherein the vehicle has an electrical system, comprising:

a housing comprising a base having at least one edge and a trapping panel having at least one edge, said trapping panel foldably joined to said base by a living hinge positioned along said edges of said base and said panel;

a LED circuit board comprising at least one LED electrically connected to said LED circuit board and an electrical connector connected between the electrical system and said LED circuit board to supply power from the electrical system of the vehicle to said at least one LED, said LED circuit board positioned adjacent to said base;

said trapping panel also comprising at least one aperture there through cooperatively sized and positioned to allow said trapping panel to be folded along said living hinge over said base and said circuit board to secure said LED circuit board between said base and said trapping panel such that said at least one LED projects through said at least one aperture in said trapping panel; and

a lens/reflector having attaching means for attaching said lens/reflector to said housing over said at least one LED projecting through said at least one aperture in said trapping panel.

2. The automotive center high mount stop lamp of claim 1 wherein said housing is integrally formed as a single molded piece.

3. The automotive center high mount stop lamp of claim 2 wherein said housing is molded of polypropylene.

4. The automotive center high mount stop lamp of claim 1 further comprising a cover having cover securing means for securing said cover to said housing and said lens/reflector.

5. The automotive center high mount stop lamp of claim 1 wherein said trapping panel further comprises at least one aperture cooperatively sized and positioned to accept said attaching means of said lens/reflector.

6. The automotive center high mount stop lamp of claim 1 wherein said lens/reflector further comprises a reflective hood and a substantially translucent lens portion.

7. The automotive center high mount stop lamp of claim 6 wherein said reflective hood and said lens portion are integrally formed as a single molded piece.

8. The automotive center high mount stop lamp of claim 6 wherein said reflective hood has an interior surface coated with a reflective material.

9. The automotive center high mount stop lamp of claim 6 wherein said lens portion is red in color.

10. The automotive center high mount stop lamp of claim 1 wherein said at least one LED is red in color.

11. The automotive center high mount stop lamp of claim 1 wherein said attaching means comprises at least one mounting tab and at least one mounting clip which frictionally retain said lens/reflector to said housing.

12. An automotive center high mount stop lamp for mounting on a vehicle, wherein the vehicle has an electrical system, comprising:

a substantially flat base having an upper surface and a trapping panel connected to said base by a living hinge, said living hinge being foldable to permit said trapping panel to fold over said base;

a LED circuit board comprising a plurality of LEDs electrically connected to said LED circuit board;

an electrical connector connected between said LED circuit board and the electrical system so that power from the electrical system of the vehicle is conveyed to said LEDs, said LED circuit board positioned adjacent to said upper surface of said base;

said trapping panel having a plurality of apertures there through corresponding in number to said plurality of LEDs and cooperatively sized to allow said trapping panel to be folded along said living hinge over said base to secure said LED circuit board between said base and said trapping panel such that one LED projects through each said aperture;

retention means for retaining said trapping panel in a folded position over said base;

a lens/reflector positioned over said plurality of LEDs projecting through said apertures;

attaching means for attaching said lens/reflector to said housing; and

a cover removably attached to said base and said lens/reflector.

13. The automotive center high mount stop lamp of claim 12 wherein said base and said trapping panel are integrally formed along said living hinge as a single molded piece.

14. The automotive center high mount stop lamp of claim 13 wherein said single molded piece is molded of polypropylene.

15. The automotive center high mount stop lamp of claim 12 wherein said retention means comprises at least one aperture on said trapping panel, at least one aperture on said base and at least one mounting groove in said base which engage said lens/reflector.

16. The automotive center high mount stop lamp of claim 12 wherein said lens/reflector further comprises a reflective hood and a substantially translucent lens portion.

17. The automotive center high mount stop lamp of claim 16 wherein said reflective hood and said lens portion are integrally formed as a single molded piece.

18. The automotive center high mount stop lamp of claim 16 wherein said reflective hood has an interior surface coated with a reflective material.

19. The automotive center high mount stop lamp of claim 16 wherein said lens portion is red in color.

20. The automotive center high mount stop lamp of claim 12 wherein said plurality of LEDs are red in color.

21. The automotive center high mount stop lamp of claim 12 wherein said attaching means comprises at least one mounting tab and at least one mounting clip which frictionally retain said lens/reflector to said folded base and said trapping panel.

22. An automotive stop lamp assembly for mounting on a vehicle having an electrical system for supplying electrical power to electrical components of the vehicle, said assembly comprising:

a base member having a recessed portion formed therein;

a circuit board having an electrical circuit formed thereon, said circuit board positioned within said recessed portion, and said circuit board having at least one LED electrically connected to said circuit;

a panel member connected to said base member by a foldable connection so that said panel member can be folded over said base member and said recess, said panel member having at least one aperture formed there through, and said at least one aperture being dimensioned and positioned so that said at least one LED extends through said at least one aperture when said panel member is folded along said foldable connection over said base member;

a lens/reflector member adapted to be positioned over said at least one LED extending through said at least one aperture;

a retainer retaining said lens/reflector over said at least one LED;

an electrical connector connecting the electrical system to said circuit to supply electrical power to said at least one LED so that said LED emits light; and

a cover member adapted to be positioned over said lens/reflector member.

23. The assembly of claim 22 wherein said lens/reflector member comprises a reflective portion and a translucent lens portion, said reflective portion arranged to reflect light emitted by said at least one LED through said lens portion.

24. The assembly of claim 22 wherein said base member has an access opening communicating with said recessed portion, and said electrical connector is positioned to pass through said access opening to access said circuit.

25. The assembly of claim 22 wherein said panel member and said base member are molded as a single unit, and said foldable connection is a molded living hinge.

26. The assembly of claim 22 wherein means are provided to retain said panel member in a folded position over said base member.

27. The assembly of claim 22 wherein said base member is adapted to be mounted to the vehicle.

28. The assembly of claim 22 wherein said panel member is dimensioned to fit into said recessed portion when said panel member is folded over said base portion.